Synthetic benchmarks

The Samsung Galaxy J7 Pro, just like the J7 (2017) is running on the Exynos 7870 chipset. While incredibly power-efficient, it's still the same chip as you'd get on last year's J7. We certainly wouldn't have minded getting the higher-grade Exynos 7880, which is utilized in the Galaxy A5 (2017).

While the 7870 chip has a decent octa-core Cortex-A53 processor clocked at 1.6GHz, its Mali-T830MP1 GPU maybe somewhat disappointing. This single-core Mali was perfect for the 720p screen on the J7 (2016), having twice as many pixels on the Pro model will probably be tougher on the GPU.

We kick off our benchmark inspection with some Geekbenching. Unsurprisingly, the Pro scores virtually identical numbers as its (2017) counterpart - decent numbers for the class, but behind phones with the Snapdragon 625 and Samsung's own newer Exynos 7880. The J7 Max (Helio P20) consistently outperforms the Pro in single-core scenarios and loses in multi-core.

GeekBench 4.1 (multi-core)

Higher is better

Xiaomi Mi A14292

Xiaomi Mi 5X4225

Moto G5S Plus4193

HTC U11 Life4178

Sony Xperia XA1 Plus3783

Samsung Galaxy J7 (2017)3779

Samsung Galaxy J7 Pro3768

Samsung Galaxy J7 Max3509

Nokia 6 (Global version)2841

LG Q62011

GeekBench 4.1 (single-core)

Higher is better

Sony Xperia XA1 Plus901

Samsung Galaxy J7 Max888

Xiaomi Mi A1877

Xiaomi Mi 5X868

HTC U11 Life865

Moto G5S Plus843

Samsung Galaxy J7 Pro735

Samsung Galaxy J7 (2017)734

Nokia 6 (Global version)665

LG Q6584

GeekBench 4 (multi-core)

Higher is better

Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 (Helio X20)4456

Xiaomi Mi 5X4106

Samsung Galaxy A7 (2017)4102

Samsung Galaxy A5 (2017)3958

Sony Xperia XA1 Plus3672

Samsung Galaxy J7 Pro3414

Samsung Galaxy J7 (2017)3388

Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 (S625)3011

Samsung Galaxy J7 Max2964

Nokia 6 (Global version)2739

LG Q61898

HTC U11 Life1570

GeekBench 4 (single-core)

Higher is better

Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 (Helio X20)1546

Sony Xperia XA1 Plus865

Xiaomi Mi 5X846

Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 (S625)832

Samsung Galaxy J7 Max819

HTC U11 Life810

Samsung Galaxy A7 (2017)776

Samsung Galaxy A5 (2017)764

Samsung Galaxy J7 Pro699

Samsung Galaxy J7 (2017)693

Nokia 6 (Global version)646

LG Q6508

On to graphics-only tests. The Mali-T830MP1 in charge of the graphics department wasn't a big deal last year on a 720p display, so it's even less impressive twelve months later on more than twice as many pixels.

Offscreen or onscreen, the tests prove the GPU inside the J7 Pro is inferior to the competition and outdated. The same Mali, but with three cores and a faster clock speed does far better inside the Exynos 7880 within the Galaxy A5/A7 (2017).

GFX 3.0 Manhattan (1080p offscreen)

Higher is better

Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 (Helio X20)15

Samsung Galaxy A5 (2017)15

HTC U11 Life14

Samsung Galaxy A7 (2017)14

Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 (S625)9.9

Samsung Galaxy C79.8

Xiaomi Mi 5X9.8

Moto G5S Plus9.8

Motorola Moto Z2 Play9.8

Xiaomi Mi A19.8

Sony Xperia XA1 Plus9.6

Samsung Galaxy J7 Max9

Nokia 6 (Global version)7.1

LG Q65.8

Samsung Galaxy J7 (2017)5.1

Samsung Galaxy J7 Pro5.1

GFX 3.0 Manhattan (onscreen)

Higher is better

Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 (Helio X20)15

Samsung Galaxy A5 (2017)15

Samsung Galaxy A7 (2017)15

HTC U11 Life14

Sony Xperia XA1 Plus10

Moto G5S Plus10

Motorola Moto Z2 Play10

Xiaomi Mi 5X9.7

Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 (S625)9.7

Xiaomi Mi A19.7

Samsung Galaxy C79.6

Samsung Galaxy J7 Max8.9

Nokia 6 (Global version)7

LG Q65.3

Samsung Galaxy J7 (2017)5.1

Samsung Galaxy J7 Pro5.1

GFX 3.1 Manhattan (1080p offscreen)

Higher is better

HTC U11 Life9.8

Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 (Helio X20)9.5

Samsung Galaxy A5 (2017)9.1

Samsung Galaxy A7 (2017)9.1

Motorola Moto Z2 Play6.5

Xiaomi Mi 5X6.4

Xiaomi Mi A16.4

Moto G5S Plus6.4

Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 (S625)6.2

Samsung Galaxy C76.2

Sony Xperia XA1 Plus6.2

Samsung Galaxy J7 Max5.8

Nokia 6 (Global version)4.6

LG Q63.8

Samsung Galaxy J7 (2017)3.3

Samsung Galaxy J7 Pro3.3

GFX 3.1 Manhattan (onscreen)

Higher is better

HTC U11 Life9.5

Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 (Helio X20)9.4

Samsung Galaxy A5 (2017)9

Samsung Galaxy A7 (2017)9

Motorola Moto Z2 Play6.9

Moto G5S Plus6.8

Sony Xperia XA1 Plus6.7

Xiaomi Mi 5X6.3

Xiaomi Mi A16.3

Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 (S625)6.2

Samsung Galaxy J7 Max6.2

Samsung Galaxy C76.1

Nokia 6 (Global version)4.5

LG Q63.5

Samsung Galaxy J7 (2017)3.3

Samsung Galaxy J7 Pro3.3

GFX 3.1 Car scene (1080p offscreen)

Higher is better

Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 (Helio X20)5.4

HTC U11 Life5.3

Samsung Galaxy A5 (2017)5.2

Samsung Galaxy A7 (2017)5.2

Samsung Galaxy J7 Max4

Sony Xperia XA1 Plus3.7

Xiaomi Mi 5X3.5

Motorola Moto Z2 Play3.5

Xiaomi Mi A13.5

Moto G5S Plus3.4

Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 (S625)3.4

Samsung Galaxy C73.4

Nokia 6 (Global version)2.5

LG Q62.1

Samsung Galaxy J7 (2017)1.9

Samsung Galaxy J7 Pro1.9

GFX 3.1 Car scene (onscreen)

Higher is better

Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 (Helio X20)5.4

HTC U11 Life5.3

Samsung Galaxy A5 (2017)5.2

Samsung Galaxy A7 (2017)5.2

Sony Xperia XA1 Plus4

Samsung Galaxy J7 Max4

Moto G5S Plus3.8

Motorola Moto Z2 Play3.8

Xiaomi Mi 5X3.5

Xiaomi Mi A13.5

Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 (S625)3.4

Samsung Galaxy C73.4

Nokia 6 (Global version)2.5

Samsung Galaxy J7 (2017)1.9

LG Q61.9

Samsung Galaxy J7 Pro1.9

The J7 Pro takes some more beating in Basemark X, where it shares the last spot in this group with its close relative J7 (2017).

Basemark X

Higher is better

Samsung Galaxy A7 (2017)14619

HTC U11 Life14367

Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 (Helio X20)13666

Moto G5S Plus10488

Xiaomi Mi A110472

Motorola Moto Z2 Play10455

Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 (S625)10446

Samsung Galaxy C710445

Xiaomi Mi 5X10403

Sony Xperia XA1 Plus9543

Samsung Galaxy J7 Max9034

Nokia 6 (Global version)7516

LG Q66179

Samsung Galaxy J7 Pro5497

Samsung Galaxy J7 (2017)5489

With all components thrown into the mix, we look at Antutu and Basemark 2.0 for a gauge of overall performance. As you could guess after reading thus far, the J7 Pro is no pro and only manages to stay ahead of Snapdragon 430 devices like the Nokia 6 and LG Q6.

AnTuTu 6

Higher is better

Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 (Helio X20)85162

HTC U11 Life72845

Motorola Moto Z2 Play68322

Moto G5S Plus64554

Xiaomi Mi 5X63548

Samsung Galaxy C762818

Xiaomi Mi A161762

Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 (S625)61616

Samsung Galaxy A5 (2017)61020

Samsung Galaxy A7 (2017)60767

Samsung Galaxy J7 Max57996

Sony Xperia XA1 Plus55657

Samsung Galaxy J7 Pro47920

Nokia 6 (Global version)47495

Samsung Galaxy J7 (2017)46822

LG Q637276

Basemark OS 2.0

Higher is better

Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 (Helio X20)1728

Samsung Galaxy A5 (2017)1417

HTC U11 Life1400

Xiaomi Mi A11262

Xiaomi Mi 5X1246

Samsung Galaxy C71222

Motorola Moto Z2 Play1213

Sony Xperia XA1 Plus1198

Moto G5S Plus1176

Xiaomi Redmi Note 4 (S625)1050

Samsung Galaxy J7 Pro1038

Samsung Galaxy A7 (2017)497

Samsung Galaxy J7 Max379

Samsung Galaxy J7 (2017)349

LG Q6275

We didn't expect much from the Galaxy J7 Pro in the benchmark sessions after having already spent time with the J7 (2017). The focus wasn't on performance with this one - looks and power-efficiency is the Pro's game, and those things it does well. Not so much with performance.

The good news is, the dated chip was designed quite well. Despite the low scores, we can confirm that the Galaxy J7 Pro packs enough punch for gaming and while occasional hiccups do happen, especially in 3D games, they won't stop anyone from enjoying a good gaming session. Arcade games run better, of course. But throughout the UI, lag is almost non-existent.

Finally, thanks to the high-end 14nm manufacturing process, the Exynos 7870 runs cool and you won't experience the so-called hot spots during long gaming sessions.